ONE TIME London Two South challengers Gosport & Fareham are on a dramatic slump which has seen them crash into relegation danger.

They join five other clubs tied on eight points just above bottom spot after fellow strugglers Tunbridge Wells became the latest to inflict damage on a Gosport squad stretched by injury and unavailability.

The troubled peninsular outfit were swept away in a 25-minute four-try onslaught.

It left Gosport trailing 27-0 with no way back for a side mixed with players from the seconds and thirds called.

At least they came back strongly in the second half with two tries, one from Mark Pollard and a scrambled forwards effort. But, with matches against top two Barnes and Portsmouth before the Christmas holidays, it's not looking great.

"After 24 minutes the game was all over," felt coach Sean Fanning. "A little bit of luck went their way early on and there was no coming back."

Portsmouth lost their unbeaten record with a disappointing 10-7 reverse at Beckenham but remain top, two points clear of Barnes.

Havant jumped back to sixth in National Division Three South, crushing fellow London One promotees Hertford 36-10 to dispel the frustrations of last weekend at Old Patesians.

A brace apiece for wingers Matt Gronow and Neil McGovern took the Hooks Lane side to a comfortable bonus point early in the second half and prop Rob Lawrence added a fifth before the visitors' late consolation.

Havant dominated and showed desire required to maintain a place in the league but director of rugby Adam King was critical.

"I think we fell off the pace in the last 25 when we were comfortably leading," he said. "We could well be punished for this. That said, we played with a lot more passion and asked continual questions of the Hertford defence. The next two games are crucial."